PRESS RELEASE
Nov. 15, 2021
For Immediate Release
Michael Port
Pitkin County Solid Waste Center
970-429-2892 michael.port@pitkincounty.com
Pitkin County Solid Waste Center hosting Deconstruction Workshop
Pitkin County, CO - The Pitkin County Solid Waste Center (SWC) is hosting a two-day Deconstruction Workshop this week that will train contactors, architects, and local government representatives from throughout the Roaring Fork Valley on the process of deconstruction as an alternative to traditional demolition.
Leading the workshop is Ted Reiff, founder and president of the ReUse People of America, Inc. (TRP), an environmental organization based in California that salvages used building materials and markets them throughout the U.S. The ReUse Institute, the training and consulting division of TRP, offers a two-day workshop covering the entire deconstruction process, from building material salvage, project review and bidding through the shipment of reclaimed materials from the jobsite to targeted destinations.
"We are excited to bring in Ted Reiff, an expert in the field and one of the early advocates of the emerging deconstruction industry. We hope the workshop provides the motivation and know-how for our local construction industry to start applying deconstruction practices into their projects" says Michael Port, C&D Diversion Specialist with the SWC.
Taking place on Nov. 16 and 17 at Colorado Mountain College's Aspen campus, the workshop was met with excitement from the community and the 50-person guest list quickly filled up. Those interested in construction waste management issues can look for future events hosted by the SWC in 2022.
Over half of the materials that end up in Pitkin County's landfill are generated by construction and demolition (C&D) activities, with about 90% of that resulting from the demolition and remodels of residential and commercial buildings. To reduce the volume of waste generated when all or parts of a building need to come down, deconstruction is one strategy a project team could take which, unlike traditional demolition, involves the careful dismantling of buildings in order to preserve their reusable components. The deconstruction and building material reuse industry also creates socioeconomic benefits like new job creation, training opportunities in the skilled trades, and providing communities access to lower-cost salvaged building materials. As a part of their C&D Debris Recovery Program launched in 2020, the SWC is working closely with the local construction industry by providing educational opportunities, incentives and other support to improve the management of reusable and recyclable building materials that are generated by construction activities in the region.
The Pitkin County SWC is dedicated to conserving our environment and extending the life of the landfill by reducing waste generation through public education, recyling, and reusing valuable commodities with innovative programs and providing safe and ethical disposal for all other materials.
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